S&R’s Washington Awards Transfix at Halcyon House
• June 8, 2015

Celebrating S&R Foundation’s 15th anniversary and its Washington Awards, co-founders Sachiko Kuno and Ryuji Ueno reflected on past accomplishments and looked to the future. S&R’s May 30 gala performances at Halcyon House included soprano Huanhuan Ma, dancer and choreographer Tamas Krizsa (with Maki Onuki), Erzhan Kulibaev on violin (with pianist Ryo Yanagitani), solo pianist Michael Mizrahi and grand prize winner Nabil Shehata, double bass and conductor (with his brother, pianist Karim Shehata). Menu and music were paired by chef Eric Ziebold. Karl Green of Bonhams led the live auction, which included such items as dinner at Evermay Estate, “Best of D.C.” package and a trip to Japan for two. [gallery ids="102095,133920,133917,133911,133914" nav="thumbs"]

Venezuela Wins Embassy Chef Challenge
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Cultural Tourism D.C. presented the Seventh Annual Gala Embassy Chef Challenge May 20 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. A dozen embassy chefs presented their signature delicacies before a panel of celebrity chefs and food critics for Judge’s and People’s Choice Awards. Chef Manuel Rodrigues of Venezuela garnered top votes for his crowd-pleasing rendition of ceviche. Cultural Tourism D.C. board chair Tim Cox acknowledged former Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall and the many other dignitaries in attendance before urging, “Dine like a diplomat, and let the international tasting begin.” [gallery ids="102096,133907" nav="thumbs"]

Lobsters to Benefit Life with Cancer
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The Lobster Extravaganza on May 2 in Fairfax enhanced the fun and friendship of those giving to Life with Cancer, part of Northern Virginia’s Inova Health System. Sponsors included Robert Hisaoka, the Peterson Companies, Paul and Linda Saville and Virginia Run Turkey Trot.

Kreeger Museum: ‘Neighbor and Jewel’ on Foxhall Road
• June 7, 2015

Guests enjoyed cocktails in the Kreeger Museum’s lower galleries, a seated dinner in the Great Hall and Monet Gallery and dessert on the Sculpture Terrace May 16.  Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke, the gala’s honorary patron, spoke about the recent Flemish Expressionism exhibition and introduced the jazz quartet which performed a number of works by Django Reinhardt.  He called the Kreeger “a neighbor and jewel in Washington.” Contributions enable the museum to provide innovative arts education workshops and programs for schools throughout the Washington area, focusing on underserved communities.
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GALA Theatre Shines the Lights
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GALA Theatre’s Noche de Estrellas or Night of the Stars honored José Andrés for Arts Business and Philanthropy and Marta Casals Isthmian for Service in the Arts May 19. The evening began on the theater’s rooftop with a Latino buffet and segued downstairs to performances by the Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company and Paseo Nuevo video presentation, interspersed with a live auction and more. The evening concluded with a champagne toast and dessert, all in support of GALA’s outreach to our community’s at-risk Latino teens. [gallery ids="102097,133906,133908,133903" nav="thumbs"]

Restore Mass Ave Seeks to Re-green Embassy Row
• May 23, 2015

Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink and his wife Gabrielle de Kuyper Bekink welcomed leaders and supporters of Restore Mass Ave and other guests May 7 to their S Street residence, just off Massachusetts Avenue. The nonprofit was founded to bring Embassy Row back to its original design by engaging residents, embassies and public and private partners to plant and sustain a full canopy of trees along D.C.’s most famous diplomatic avenue. John Peters Irelan is spearheading the project which has already secured 330 new trees. There is also an education and outreach component as volunteer “treekeepers” learn tree care. [gallery ids="102090,134224,134211,134218,134221,134215" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetown Village: Helping Neighbors ‘Live Better, Live Longer’
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Georgetown Village “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” celebrated May 13 with its supporters and volunteers on the rooftop at Georgetown Harbour in the handsome penthouse offices of Foley & Lardner. Executive Director Lynn Golub-Rofrano was cited as the heart of Georgetown Village, the volunteers as the second heart and the guests as the third heart. The non-profit provides services and programs so that older residents can live better and longer in their homes. Major donor Nancy Taylor Bubes sent everyone home with a marigold plant and gardening gloves in appreciation for helping her business “bloom.” [gallery ids="102089,134228,134226,134223,134219" nav="thumbs"]

Opera Camerata Presents ‘Carmen’
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Spanish Ambassador Ramón Gil-Casares hosted Opera Camerata’s production of “Carmen” at his Foxhall residence May 15 with a cocktail reception and seated buffet dinner before the performance. Randall Roe, president of Opera Camerata, spoke of the power of voices in an intimate setting and expressed appreciation to Robin Phillips, the evening’s narrator. Opera Camerata also brings complimentary opera performances to classrooms around D.C. throughout the year. [gallery ids="102088,134227,134232,134230" nav="thumbs"]

Washington Performing Arts Gala Has Rhythm
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Washington Performing Arts Gala Passport at the Marriott Marquis May 2 celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Embassy Adoption Program, which acquaints D.C. Public School fifth and sixth graders to the people, culture and arts of another country. D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson was honored at the dinner, which ended to the sounds of the Hot Sardines, whose jazz evokes the spirit of an earlier Paris and New Orleans.

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‘Picturing Mary’: Colorful Ascension of Women’s Arts Gala
• May 21, 2015

The National Museum of Women in the Arts celebrated its landmark show, “Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea,” which ended April 12, with a spring gala April 10 that opened up the floors of the New York Avenue building to lively art lovers. Concerning one of the most powerful women in history and art, gala co-chair Janice Obuchowski said that “The Virgin Mary in her self-giving is the antithesis” of what goes on in D.C. “Mary has left the building but not our hearts,” said Bertha Soto Braddock, gala co-chair. [gallery ids="117983,117957,117988,117994,117967,117976" nav="thumbs"]